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Letters: Devotion to domestic violence prevention

On Saturday, March 21, Headwaters Intervention Center held a spaghetti dinner fundraiser to support the services offered for victims of domestic violence. We served dinner to about 150 folks, and the donations of the community helped us raise several thousand dollars. Special thanks to Randy at AmeriPride for the linens that gave the ambience a special touch of class, thanks to Walt and Anita Hannemann for the beautiful music that provided a wonderful background for our dining pleasure, and to Myron and Melissa Ready for the karaoke fun. There are so many others to thank, but it would fill the whole newspaper. I'll be sure to list them all in our Spring Newsletter.

The focus of this letter, though, is to thank one special person. Alda Jensen deserves the highest praise for her pit bull determination to pull the dinner together. She gathered her family (thanks Jolene!) and put them to work - cooking, serving, and cleaning a delicious dinner. She coordinated our other volunteers to post flyers all over Park Rapids to tell everyone what we were planning. She made lists, collected auction items, and decorated tables. Yes, it is true that she is a paid staff member. But much of this work was done on her own time. You see, Alda herself is a survivor of domestic violence. She's not a victim anymore. She has put her past behind her and devotes so very much of her life to helping others make the transition from battered victim to proud survivor. So, thank you, Alda. You are a shining example to your family, friends, and your community.